The award is given annually to a student who displays, “the highest standards of leadership, cooperation, participation, service and scholarship.” It is named in honor of the university’s founding president.
Farhadian, a double major in history and political science, graduated summa cum laude. A Turlock resident, he was a participant in the McNair Scholars program, a partnership between CSU Stanislaus and the University of California, Merced that helps prepare recipients to pursue doctoral degrees. The scholarship grant program gives participants a variety of networking opportunities and the chance to participate in academic conferences and research activities around the world.
Farhadian’s studies took him to Mexico and Israel. His research was presented at several conferences, and he had two articles published in the CSU Stanislaus University Honors journal.
The University conferred bachelor’s and master’s degrees on more than 2,300 students this year. Graduates from the colleges of Business Administration, Human and Health Sciences, and Natural Sciences received their degrees on Friday and those from the colleges of the Arts, Education, and Humanities and Social Sciences marched to the stage today.
Friday’s ceremonies featured a keynote address by Leon Panetta, director of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, and a commencement address by Dr. Marc Lamont Hill. Hill also spoke at today’s ceremonies. University President Hamid Shirvani presided over each event.
Today’s ceremony included the presentation of an honorary doctor of humane letters degree from the California State University and CSU Stanislaus to longtime civil rights leader, U.S. Navy veteran and former Stockton school board member Jose Bernardo. The CSU board was represented by Trustee Melinda Guzman.
At Friday’s ceremonies, Mark Lazari of Turlock was recognized as winner of the Metzger/Geiger Award for the graduate with the highest grade point average based solely on coursework completed at CSU Stanislaus.
Both commencement ceremonies included student speakers representing the 2,345 graduates. Chelsea Oliver, a nursing major, spoke on Friday, and history major Virginia Drouin-Jones addressed the graduates today.